What is this “Council”we keep hearing about?

The Rocky Mountain Regional Council (RMRC) is comprised of six (4) chapters: Albuquerque in New Mexico; and Boulder-Valley, Denver-Centennial, and Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs) in Colorado.

The RMRC holds four (4) meetings annually. The meeting location changes to accommodate the member chapters.  Generally, one meeting is held in Northern Colorado, one in Denver, one in Southern Colorado, and one in New Mexico. Additionally, one of the meetings is a joint meeting with the Wild West Regional Council (WWC). The WWC is comprised of 18 chapters in Arizona; Southern California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Salt Lake City, Utah.  Each Council has one elected, volunteer National Vice Presidents that provides representation on the National Board of Directors.

Each of the Council chapters has a minimum of three voting delegates. These delegates can actively influence the Council’s operations, uses of funds, etceteras. In addition, all chapter members are encouraged to attend Council activities and meetings to receive the many benefits and to learn about Council Operations.

The purpose of the Council is:

1.  To promote and facilitate cooperation and communication between its members and to provide a means through which their resources may be pooled to assist the chapters of the IMA to achieve its purposes within the area served by the Council;

2.  To conduct, sponsor, or participate in such activities as is deemed desirable or necessary in accomplishing its

purposes;

3.  To assist in the orderly establishment of new chapters in the area; and

4.  To recommend persons to fulfill leadership positions at the national level. RMRC provides recommendations for a regional Vice President and National Directors, who are influential in charting the future of IMA. Members ofthe RMRC also serve on national committees which develop and implement organizational policies.

The benefits to the chapter members include:

1.  Educational seminars and workshops that qualify as chapter professional education;

2.  Training for chapter board members;

3.  Chapter support and guidance;

4.  Communication with National about chapter concerns;

5.  Information about the events of National, the Council, and other chapters’ events;

6.  Advertising of chapter events in the Council newsletter; Speakers bureau; Social activities; and a

7.  Hospitality suite at the National Conference.

So the next time you are asked if you will be attending the Council meeting, give serious thought to seeing, in person, how the Council operates and can enrich the benefits you receive from IMA.

HISTORY

1979-1999

In 1978, several IMA members discussed the desirability of forming a council of the IMA chapters in the Rocky

Mountain region. As a result of these discussions, representatives from the Albuquerque, Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colorado-Wyoming Border, Denver, and Roaring Fork Valley chapters met on February 10, 1979, to pursue the formation of a council. The first formal meeting of the Council was held in Denver following the Chapter Management Seminar on May 5, 1979, at which the initial officers were elected. The Charter of the Council was approved by the National Board on June 23, 1979.

The original chapters of the Council were:

Albuquerque

Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen)

Colorado Springs-Pueblo

Salt Lake Area

Colorado-Wyoming Border

Western Colorado (Grand Junction)

Denver

The Roaring Fork Valley and Western Colorado chapters subsequently disbanded.

The Salt Lake chapter withdrew and joined the Wild West Council. The Colorado Springs-Pueblo chapter split into the Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs) and Colorado South (Pueblo area) chapters. Two new chapters have been formed _ Boulder Valley (Boulder) and Colorado Centennial (Denver downtown). The Colorado South Chapter has disbanded and so has the Colorado-Wyoming Border.  The Colorado-Centennial chapter and the Denver chapter merged to form the Denver-Centennial chapter.